Gum Disease: Tips for Reducing Your Risk

dentist in New York for cleanings on a regular basis can help to reduce your risk of developing gum disease. These tips will also help you keep your gums healthy.

Stay on Top of Your Oral Hygiene
One of the most effective things you can do for your oral health is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. Keeping your teeth clean reduces the amount of plaque and bacteria that sit near your gums, causing inflammation. Ask your dentist if you could benefit from using a mouthwash as well. Some types of mouthwashes kill bacteria that cause gum disease and can make your oral hygiene efforts even more effective.

Control Your Chronic Medical Conditions
Many chronic medical conditions and some medications can increase your risk of gum disease. One of the most common culprits is diabetes. High blood glucose levels can make you more vulnerable to gum disease, and they can cause the disease to progress more rapidly if you develop it. In turn, gum disease makes it more difficult to control blood glucose levels, as the infection causes blood glucose to increase. Maintaining strict control over your chronic conditions can reduce your risk of gum disease. Make sure your dentist knows about your health and any medications you take so he or she can recommend more frequent dental cleanings, if necessary.

See Your Dentist
Despite your best efforts to remove plaque, some of it will calcify and turn into tartar. Tartar will cause inflammation in your gums and can only be removed by a dentist. Have dental cleanings every six months or as recommended by your dentist. Maintaining regular appointments will also allow your dentist to spot gum disease in its early stages, when it is easier to treat.

Find out for yourself why Park 56 Dental was voted the top dentist in NYC, and make an appointment for a dental cleaning . You can reach our dental office in NYC by calling (646) 783-3529.